Lerna, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lerna: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lerna and Coles County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Coles County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 372 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Coles County compares with Illinois
Coles County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Coles County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Coles County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 67.8 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.2% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.5% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.9% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Coles County has lower values than Illinois for garbage-truck share. It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Coles County: 10.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Illinois: 2.6).
Overview
Police reported 372 crashes involving commercial trucks in Coles County since 2015: 210 people were injured and 39 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Lerna since 2015; patterns below come from Coles County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in July (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.5% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 14.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-57 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come SR-16 (2), CR-1000N (1) and CR-500 E (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
Route planning tips for Lerna fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-57 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 27.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 14.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Coles County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| CR-1000N | 1 |
| CR-500 E | 1 |
| CR-7 Old State Rd | 1 |
| SR-130 | 1 |
| US-45 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Coles County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 129 |
| Il-16 | 11 |
| SR-16 | 9 |
| Il-130 | 8 |
| North | 7 |
| Lincoln Ave | 7 |
| I-057 | 7 |
| Lincoln | 5 |
Lerna at a glance
| Population | 218 |
| Land area | 0.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,896 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 62440) | $79,605 |
| Median home value (ZIP 62440) | $132,995 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Coles County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 20 | +53% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 26 | +31% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 37 | +45% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 13 a year in the 1990s and 37 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lerna
How many truck crashes happen in Lerna?
372 truck crashes have been reported in Coles County since 2015, with 39 deaths and 210 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Lerna?
Since 2015, I-57 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lerna: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Lerna?
January has the most truck crashes in Coles County, 11.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lerna?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Coles County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Lerna compare with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 67.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Coles County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Lerna?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.